Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said during today's game broadcast that Vladimir Guerrero will work out for the Diamondbacks, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
Guerrero's lack of defensive skills at this point in his career make him a curious fit for any National League team, but if his bat is up to the task he could be used as an effective late-game pinch hitter. Guerrero registered the weakest offensive season of his career with the Orioles in 2011 but still hit a respectable .290/.317/.416 with 13 home runs. He was used exclusively as a DH by the Orioles, however, and has just 20 appearances in the field during regular season play dating back to 2009.
Even late in the offseason, Guerrero was said to be seeking $5MM, but won't sniff that figure now. Johnny Damon, also said to be seeking $5MM, recently signed with the Indians for $1.25MM. Even that will likely be more than Guerrero can hope to obtain, as Damon will play the outfield regularly in Cleveland. Guerrero switched agents late in the offseason and is now represented by Proformance.
Looks like the Diamondbacks still can’t resist free swingers
A “free swinger” who has hit below .300 only twice in his MLB career, worst was .290 last season.
The point is that he doesn’t make a habit of drawing walks, which seems to be a common trait among Dbacks hitters.
the walks arent the problem as much as the strikeout total…something that vlad has never had a problem with
Only when he whiffs with two strikes.
So Upton, Parra, Young and Kubel for 3 OF spots already…..so lets add Guerrero? I guess if hes a bench player it could work. Still think Vlad has something to offer a team on offense.
DH for interleague…
Which should be settled by Kubel…
And DH next year if he stays.
Let’s file this away in the HUH? file…
Vlad did good last year, .290, 13 HRs and 65 RBIs for Baltimore. Honestly I would be looking at him before even considering guys like Manny, Damon and Bobby A.
in the AL you may have a point
Why don’t the Twins give Vlad a shot? At the least, he’ll be on the bench. At the most, he’d be the starting RF.
You don’t want him in the outfield.
Couldn’t be any worse than Trevor Plouffe and Clete Thomas.
The Wily Mo Pena plan – instead of filling in the DH spot with other position players who give NL teams an inherent disadvantage in Interleague because they can’t match up with other teams’ DHs, go out and get a DH of your own to help lessen the gap for a month and then DFA after interleague ends. A pretty good strategy, and I’m surprised it’s not used more often.
I don’t know how much of a disadvantage it really is anymore..
if you look around the AL most team are going with versatility instead of having a big masher at DH.
Except that the DBacks already could do that well. In interleague, go with an OF of Parra-Young-Upton and DH Kubel. Would be much better than leaving Kubel in the field and DHing Vlad.
Kubel’s been a lot better than expected in the outfield and he keeps throwing guys out.
And if there’s an injury, as there is now?
Having a backup plan – especially if it comes on a minor-league deal – is never a bad idea.
Even the discussion of this says one thing that nobody has said out loud yet – interleague strategy or no – and that is that they don’t think CY will be back any time soon – as in months. That’s not good.
Disagree. CY will start swinging the bat tomorrow, and Vlad is unplayable in the OF now. It says that they’re willing to consider a backup plan at DH for interleague if another OF injury pops up after CY’s.
“CY will start swinging the bat tomorrow” That doesn’t mean a whole lot. He’s already been MIA for a dozen days now. Gibby already said on the radio that he would exceed the 15 day DL, and he has a ‘tear’ – it’s not the contustion that’s the problem. He’ll be out longer. The question is how long. Vlad is unplayable, but it means he would DH in interleague, not Kubel – because Kubel is in the field with CY still out. And let’s face it, Gibby hates Goldschmidt and wouldn’t be likely to use him in a DH situation. He’s crushing this kid’s confidence by playing Over(the hill)bay and taking away at bats where Goldschmidt could be learning at least, and thriving at best.
I’m not so sure Vlad can’t play D. He didn’t play much his last year in LAA due to injury. In Texas he played a bit but they had 4 OF already and hitting was not an issue. In Baltimore… well we’re talking a team that let Pie and Scott play a lot of horrible LF and refused to sit Reynolds no matter how much he stunk. NOt exactly good decision making there.
With Towers this will most likely happen. It will make little sense, like the Kubel signing….but, somehow it will work. Seems to be Towers’ M.O. on offense. He still treats his offense like the odd patchwork he constructed in San Deigo. The difference is he’s starting with superior players.
Love what Towers has and hasn’t done in regards to not trading Upton, retaining Gibson and constructing a great bullpen.
His moves on offense are about 50/50. Blum, Overbay, and Mora were wasted money. Hill, Kubel and Bloomquest are going well. Which would Vlad be? I would say he’ll be productive and I would not put it past Gibby to play Vlad every third day or so in the outfield. Keep in mind, Chris Young has a bum shoulder, Upton has a bad thumb and Kubel an injury history a mile long. Plus, having a primo DH like Vlad for interleague play at a small cost and little commitment is perfect for the Diamondbacks. Always enjoyed Vlad and would be pleased to see him with my team.
Vlad Guerrero would make sense playing in the American League. Should Arizona D-Backs sign Vlad, the Seattle Mariners better acquire him for minor-league pitcher James Paxton and infielder Chone Figgins or Brendan Ryan that can use some change of scenery to help both teams this season and possibly in 2013.